Comparative Study on Dry Sliding Wear Resistance of Carbon Steel, Alloyed Steel and Cast Iron

The aim of this paper is to study and compare the dry sliding wear resistance of carbon steel, alloyed steel and cast iron, knowing that the sliding wear is a type of deterioration that appears in various practical applications. Experimental research of this study was mainly performed using a tribometer (CSM Tribometer) according to the pin-on-disk method (POD), aiming to determine the coefficient of friction (by graphic representation) and wear rate (by analytical calculation). The tested materials were some iron alloys, namely carbon steels (C25, C45), alloyed steel (34CrNiMo6) and cast iron (EN-GJS-400-15) respectively. The tests were performed complying with ASTM G99 Standard, keeping the same working conditions for all the investigated materials. The results obtained in this study were presented through tables with values, graphs and through characteristic images acquired with a digital microscope and a 3D laser scanning microscope, as well as with the aid of a specialized software (MultiFileAnalyzer) concerning the wear track profiles of the counterbody and tested specimens. The investigations revealed a lower friction coefficient for the cast iron, correlated with a reduced wear rate of the material, which leads to the fact that this type of material has a better resistance to sliding wear resistance compared with the other analysed materials. (paper)